Apparatus for decorating or printing on ceramic articles with different colors



March 27, 1956 J. v. FERNANDEZ 2,739,529

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING ON CERAMIC ARTICLES WITH DIFFERENTCOLORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1954 J05 e VaZz'elaFer/zxg i BYM7 ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 J. v. FERNANDEZ 2,739,529 APPARATUS FORDECORATING OR PRINTING ON CERAMIC ARTICLES WITH DIFFERENT COLORS FiledDec. 22, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ,4 la lllllllfiil llllllllj INVENTORJoseValoelal lswzanxiez ATTORNEY March 1955 J. v. FERNANDEZ 2,739,529

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING ON CERAMIC ARTICLES WITH DIFFERENTCOLORS Filed Dec. 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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X f w A TT'OANEY articles by a silk screen method wherein the apparatusAPPARATUS FOR DECORATING R PRINTING 0N CERAMIC ARTICLES WITH DWFERENTCGLQRS Iiose Valiela Fernandez, New York, N. Y.

Appiication December 22, 1954, Serial No. 477,077

Claims. (Cl. 101-115) This invention relates to an apparatus fordecorating or printing on concave or convex surfaces of ceramic articleswith different colors.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for printing on the surfaces of ceramic for printing thedifierent colors is combined into a single machine so that the ultimatework resulting from the machine will be the equivalent of threeindividual machines whereby to save on labor and to increase productionof ceramic articles printed with a silk screen stencil.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for and amethod of decorating ceramic articles having concave or convex surfaceswith two different colors wherein the printer in operating the machinedoes not have to handle or touch the plate between the different colorprintings.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus forprinting and decorating ceramic articles which incorporates the use of arotating table adapted to be rotated to position the ceramic articlesbetween the working stations and the loading and discharge station, andwherein simultaneously, two of the ceramic articles can be worked uponwith the rotating table turned to one location, the table being turnedto move the ceramic article from one station where it has been printedwith one color, to another station where it will be printed by the othercolor, but permitting the different colors to be transferred on thedifferent ceramic articles at the same time and at one position of therotary table.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus forprinting patterns on ceramic articles wherein the movements required bythe operator are kept to a minimum and automatically upon locking thetransfer member over the ceramic article, the air valve to efiect theexpansion of the rubber transfer sheet is operable.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a printing apparatus andmethod of printing ceramic articles, having the above objects in mindand with different colors, which is of simple construction, has aminimum number of parts, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate,durable, compact, accurate, little opportunity for break age andefiicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, referencemay be had to the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying 60 drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the machine looking upon thefront thereof and with the silk screen devices at the ends or" the tableand removed from their operating stations;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the printing apparatus as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one end of the printingapparatus;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the 2,739,529Patented Mar. 27, 1956 silk screen device and as viewed on line 5-5 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the lockingmember for the rotary table and as viewed on line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through thecenter of the machine and in particular through the rotary table withthe plate holding devices being positioned to support the ceramicarticle or plate and with illustration made as to the plate beingprinted with the rubber sheet expanded into the top or concave face ofthe plate to effect the printing operation;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of therotary table and of the plate holding device;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally on line99 of Fig. 8 and through the plate holding device;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 10-10 ofFig. 8 and through the finger retaining members for the plate or ceramicarticle to be printed;

Fig. 11 is an arcuate sectional view taken generally on line 1111 ofFig. 8 and of the spring retracting means for the plate holding device.

Referring now particularly to the figures, 15 indicates generally asupporting table having end legs 16 and 17 and a top 18 suflicientlylong to permit the arrangement of two silk screen printing operations.Intermediate the length of the table is a base support 18 upwardly fromwhich there is extended a shaft 19. This shaft 19 extends through alongitudinally extending brace 20 that in turn supports a vertical guideor bearing 21 having balls 22 over which a central projection 23 of arotatable table 24- rides. The table 24 is held in place upon the shaft19 by a washer 25 and a bolt 26. This rotary table is rotated by handand by one of the or erators who inserts and removes the ceramic articleand who will be located at the rear of the machine. The rotating table24 is generally of triangular shape and has three ceramic plateretaining devices 27, 2S and 29 which are 120 degrees apart. Therotating table is so arranged that one of the devices will lie in therear of the table 15 upon each onethird rotation of the turret orrotating table 24. The table 24 will be rotated by hand by the operatorwho will place a plate or ceramic article 30 in the device which happensto be in position in rear of the table 15. The table 24 will berestrained in such a position so that work can be performed upon theplates in the other two devices that lie under the main table 15 by aretaining latch 32, Figs. 2 and 6, having a detent ball 33 adapted toenter a depression 3 in the table 24. There are three of these detents 32 in the periphery of the table 24 located 120 de rees apart. The latch32 is urged toward the side of the table 2 by a compression spring 35reacting between a support 36 and a fixed collar 37. The support 35 hasan upstanding stop plate 353 which supports the latch. This support 36is in the form of a bracket which can be attached to the rear face ofthe base 18 as indicated at 3% In the table 24 are three openings 41 forreceiving the plate retaining device. The plate retaining device has thedepressed bottom 42 that extends down through the opening and is axiallyaligned with respect to the center thereof and with respect to thecenter of plate 30 which is to be printed, and a peripheral portion 43.The centering is effected by means of adjusting screws 44 disposed inthe portion 42-. Access is bad to adjusting screws 44 through the sideopenings 45 in thc wall of the depending portion 42 and from the top ofthe device when an adjustable supporting plate 46 is removed. Thissupporting plate is supported on the upper end of an adjustable screw 47that is adjustable throughthe central boss portion 48 of the dependingbottom 42.

The peripheral portion 43 has openings 49 and 50 and -1 thatextendradially through the top of the peripheral portion 43 and whichservert-o retain and guide respectively gripping fingers 52, 53, 54thatengage the edge of the plate when it is disposed upon the supportingplate 46. These fingers are operated by a ring 55 that has threeinclined slots 56, 57 and 58 that respectively receive pins 59, 60 and61 that extend upwardly from the respective fingers 52, 53 and 54. Thisoperating ring 55 has a radially extending handle 62 that is grasped bythe operator and pulled respectively against action of three tensionsprings 63 respectively located in slots in the peripheral portion 43,of arcuate shape, and as indicated at 64. Each spring is anchored by apin 65 to the operating ring 55 and to the peripheral portion 43 of uthe device by apin 66, Fig. 8. When the operating ring 55 is releasedafter having rotated the same against the action of the spring 63, thefingers 52, 53 and 54 will move inwardly to grip the edge of the plate30 so as to center the same upon the supporting plate 46 and to hold thesame while the printing operation is being effected thereupon. Each ofthe devices 27, 28 and 29 are so constructed as above related.

With'the ceramic articles in place in the centering and retainingdevices, the table is rotated so that one such ceramic article will belocated at one side of the table 15 and the other ceramic article willbe located at the other side of the table. The equipment on the oppositesides of the table will now be described. As this equipment isidentical, it will suffice to set forth only one set. I

The equipment on the opposite side of the table is worked in anidentical manner except from the different direction, and in bothinstances toward the center of the table 15.

On the left side of the table, as shown in Fig. 2, there are threestations 70, 71 and 72. A silk screen device 73 will normally overliethe station 70. This silk screen device, as shown in Fig. 4, comprises abottom frame member '74 over the underside of which is stretched a silkscreen stencil 75 having eight penetrating openings 76 forming a part ofthe pattern or design to be printed upon the ceramic plate and a topclamping frame 7'7 that is secured to the bottom frame to retain thefolded in ends of the silk screen 75 by thumb bolt means 78, located atthe sides of the frames. Each side of the silk screen device 73 has ahandle 79. These handles are gripped to move the silk screen device 73along the table top to station 71 Where there is located a hingeablemember 81 connected to a pivot axle 82 and hingeable out of and into asquare opening 83.

This plate 81 has an opening 84 in which is located a rubber transfersheet 85. An over-center spring 86 is connected between the outer end ofan arm 87 extending from the pivot hinge 82 and the bracket 88 on therunner 20, of table 15, Fig. l.

The upper frame 77 of the silk screen device has depending projections88 and 89, Fig. 5, which respectively extend into parallel grooves 90and 91 on the front and forward edges of the table top 18. These groovesrun along station 71 and serve to guide the silk screen device 73 to theproper position over the rubber transfer sheet 85 of the hingeabletransfer device 81.

The inner side of the frame has adjustable stops 92 and 93 that willrespectively abut fixed stops 94 and 95 on the table top in the manneras indicated in Fig. 4.

When the silk screen device 73 is in position over the rubber sheettransfer device 81, ink is rubbed into the pattern opening 76 by asqueegee 96 having a rubber strip 97 and two handles 98. The patternwill thus be transferred to the rubber sheet 85.

The hingeable transfer device 81 has a frame 100 to which a bottom plate101 is secured by means of a fastening ring 102 and fastening bolts 103.The hingeable transfer device is supported in an opening 104 in thetable top 18 upon adjustable screws 105 and 1% extending upwardly fromand through the transversely A compressed air pipe 116 extends throughbottom plate 182 into the space below the perforated plate 109 to supplyair to the transfer device in order to expand the transfer sheet 85 toconform to the shape of the ceramic plate when the transfer device hasbeen rotated or hinged to an inverted position as shown in Fig. 7 forthe purpose of transferring the pattern from the transfer sheet to thedish 30. This is done first against the action of the counter-spring 86but upon'the same being disposed over the ceramic plate, as shown inFig. 7,

the counter spring 86 will act to hold the transfer sheet device downupon the ceramic plate retaining device 28.

In order to prevent the accumulation of air under the rubber sheet 85, afloating tubular structure 117 is provided. This floating tubularstructure serves as an exhaust opening or exit for any air that may havebeen trapped between the under sheet and the surface of the ceramicplate which is to be printed. This floating tubular structure has aninner tube 118 and an outer tube 119 which are clamped to the rubbersheet 85 and as rubber sheet 85 is expanded, the device 117 will bedrawn through the perforated plate 109 and a spacing sleeve Thehingeable transfer sheet device 81, when it is hinged over from station71 to station 72, is hinged through an opening 121 in the table top andonto one of the ceramic plate retaining devices 27, 28 or 29. When thishas been effected, the latch 122 hinged on the table top 18 is swung toa position over the bottom of the transfer device in the manner shown inFig. 7. This latch has an arm 123 with a contacting roller 12410 permita frictionless means for engagement with the clamping ring 102 on thebottom plate 101.

At this time a valve 125 accessible to the operator at the left side ofthe machine and at the head thereof is turned to an open position sothat compressed air is sent through a pipe line 126 to the hose 116 sothat therubber sheet 85 is expanded as illustrated in Fig. 7. The valve125 is supplied with compressed air through a pipe line 128 extendingfrom a compressor 129 supported on the floor under the table 15. As soonas the patternhas been transferred to the ceramic plate, the latch 122is turned to release the transfer device so that it can be hinged fromthe station 72 to the station 71 in position to receive another supplyof ink from the silk screen device 73. The

rotating table 24 will be turned to locate the plate just printed to thestation at the right side of the machine so as to receive through asimilar arrangement and process another pattern formed of a differentcolor ink. The plate which may have been printed with a different colorink by another operator stationed at the rear of the machine and at theright side thereof who can operate valve 130 to effect the printingoperation from the transfer .sheet device at the right side of themachine after a latch 122' has been operated to secure the rubbertransfer sheet device upon the plate retaining device which happens tobe located at the right side of the machine and upon the rotatable table24. When the plate retaining device is positioned in the rear of themachine, the operator mayremove the ceramic plate and replace the devicewith another ceramic plate to be printed with the two different colors.

The right side of the machine has the same devices including a silkscreen device 73 and a rubber sheet transfer device 81 having a rubbersheet 85'. A hose 116' the sides of the table supplies the transferdevice 81' with air as the valve 130 is turned to the on position. Otherparts of the devices on the right side of the machine are the same asthose already described, and further description of these parts at theright side of the machine is not believed to be necessary.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a color printingmachine for ceramic articles having concaved or convex surfaces whereintwo different colors can be applied and wherein the operators of themachine can produce three times what may be produced with threeindividual and separate machines. It will be seen that this is effectedthrough the use of a rotating table having ceramic plate retaining andsupporting devices which can be rotated in succession under the left andright sides of the table and to a position at the rear of the tablewhere a ceramic plate can be removed after having been printed andreplaced with a new plate to be printed.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles comprising twoelongated tables, each of which having three stations therealong, a silkscreen arrangement on each table and means for guiding the same betweentwo stations thereof, two of said stations having an opening therein, arubber sheet transfer assembly hingedly conuected between the openingsto be positioned to receive the pattern from the silk screen arrangementthen to be positioned to transfer the pattern to the ceramic article, arotary article supporting table having three angularly spaced articlereceiving devices thereupon, means for positioning said articlesupporting devices in succession under the transfer openings of saidtable, whereby inks of different colors may be printed upon the ceramicarticles while the ceramic articles are retained in the supportingdevices and without removal therefrom.

2. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles as defined inclaim 1, and locking means adjacent the transfer openings to lock therubber transfer assemblies in their printing positions.

3. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles as defined inclaim 2, and air control means for the respective rubber transfer sheetassemblies located adjacent said tables, control means for one tablebeing on the front of the apparatus and the control means for the otherbeing at the rear of the apparatus.

4. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles as defined inclaim 1, and adjustable supporting stops for supporting the hingedtransfer assembly when in the position for receiving the pattern fromthe silk screen arrangement.

5. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles as defined inclaim 1, and said article supporting devices including a member having adepressed bottom, said rotary table having an opening therein forreceiving the depressed bottom of said member, and angularly spacedadjusting screws in the depressed bottom and engageable with the wall ofthe opening to position said member within the opening of the rotarytable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,178,259 Kjell Oct. 31, 1939 2,229,346 Shurley Jan. 21, 1941 2,335,840Hebenstreit Nov. 30, 1943 2,652,771 Fernandez Sept. 22, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 211,719 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1924

